Rob Redman discovers you can now get West Coast flavours from a traditionally East Coast synth company, while enjoying putting it together himself
CONTACT WHO: Moog WEB: moogmusic.com KEY FEATURES Built-in keyboard with Glide and KB scaling; Full Range Analog Oscillator with Pulse Width Modulation; Voltage Controlled Filter; Audio Rate LFO and 4-Stage Envelope Generator; Wavefolding and Modular Utilities; Patchable Sample and Hold (S+H) circuit; 24-Point Patch Bay
Let’s start by looking at the physicality of Mavis. An obvious comparison can be drawn with Moog’s Werkstat, in that they both follow very similar design ethos.
Mavis is billed as a DIY analogue synth and, while that is true to an extent, those of you who are less interested, or lack the skills, for hours of soldering need not worry. Mavis does need to be constructed but anybody can do it. The box contains a completed printed circuit board replete with all components, a case (including a dust cover), front panel, screws and nuts, a light pipe and a tool for tightening the nuts.
Construction takes a few minutes only, with most of that time used for tightening the nuts onto the patch points. It’s a simple case of screwing the front panel to the printed circuit board, pushing the light pipe into position to bring the illumination for the LFO rate up to the front panel and that’s about it.
Even the control knobs are part of the onboard components. Personally I would prefer some of these to be a little larger but, unlike the DFAM, there aren’t many where total accuracy is needed and the knobs/ pots feel sturdy and have a decent feel. I’m sure companies like Think will offer kits for larger knobs, or you can source your own.
A power supply ships with the unit but if you are a Eurorack player, then you’ll be pleased to know Mavis is Eurorack compatible and there’s a standard power socket underneath.
So, while there is some work to do, don’t feel put off but enjoy the fact that you get to see more than you typically would with other synths and learn a little about what is going on under the lid.
Getting in the Moog
The front panel is typical Moog; clearly laid out and labelled, with all the patch points grouped to the left of the device but facing up like a Mother 32, rather than out to the side like the Werkstatt. This is clearly needed to add Mavis to a modular rig and lifts the feel of Mavis to something more like other Eurorack-compatible Moogs. It doesn’t feel so much like an affordable kit, as it does a ‘proper’ instrument. Unlike the Mother-32, the patch points are to the left of the controls. Whether this is better or worse will depend
